Irritable Bowel Syndrome Subtypes Research Articles

Review article: irritable bowel syndrome: natural history, bowel habit stability and overlap with other gastrointestinal disorders.

Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) characteristically fluctuate over time. We aimed to review the natural history of IBS and IBS subgroups including bowel habit disturbances, and the overlap of IBS with other gastrointestinal disorders. The community incidence of IBS is approximately 67 per 1000 person years. The prevalence of IBS is stable over time because symptoms fluctuate and there is a portion who experience resolution of their GI symptoms similar in number to those developing new-onset IBS. The proportion who report resolution of symptoms varies amongst population-based studies from 17% to 55%. There is evidence of substantial movement between subtypes of IBS. For example in a clinical trial cohort, only one in four patients retained their baseline classification throughout the study periods, two in three moved between IBS-C (constipation) and IBS-M (mixed), while over half switched between IBS-D (diarrhoea) and IBS-M. The least stable group was IBS-M. There are very limited data on drivers of bowel habit change in IBS. There are emerging evidence fluctuations in intestinal immune activity might account for symptom variability over time. It is of clinical importance to recognise the substantial overlap of IBS symptoms with other gastrointestinal syndromes including gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. This is important to ensure the correct clinical diagnosis of IBS is made and patients are not over investigated. Knowledge of the natural history, stability of subgroups and overlap of IBS with other gastrointestinal conditions should be considered in therapeutic decision making.

Association of anxiety-depressive disorders with irritable bowel syndrome among patients attending a rural family practice center: a comparative cross-sectional study

BackgroundComorbidity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and psychiatric disorders is common, and the prevalence of at least one psychiatric disorder has been reported as high as 80% among patients with...

Postinfection Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Following acute gastroenteritis (AGE) due to bacteria, viruses, or protozoa, a subset of patients develop new onset Rome criteria positive irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), called postinfection IBS (PI-IBS). The pooled prevalence of PI-IBS following AGE was 11.5%. PI-IBS is the best natural model that suggests that a subset of patients with IBS may have an organic basis. Several factors are associated with a greater risk of development of PI-IBS following AGE including female sex, younger age, smoking, severity of AGE, abdominal pain, bleeding per rectum, treatment with antibiotics, anxiety, depression, somatization, neuroticism, recent adverse life events, hypochondriasis, extroversion, negative illness beliefs, history of stress, sleep disturbance, and family history of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), currently called disorder of gut-brain interaction. Most patients with PI-IBS present with either diarrhea-predominant IBS or the mixed subtype of IBS, and overlap with other FGIDs, such as functional dyspepsia is common. The drugs used to treat non-constipation IBS may also be useful in PI-IBS treatment. Since randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of drugs to treat PI-IBS are rare, more studies are needed on this issue.

Perceived Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Association With Meals in a French Cohort of Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Background/AimsThe aim of our study is to evaluate the association between meals and perceived gastrointestinal symptoms in real life in a French cohort of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients.MethodsThis prospective cross-sectional observational study included patients from the French association (association des patients souffrant du syndrome de l’intestin irritable [APSSII]) of IBS. Data were collected on demographics, IBS subtype, dietary food, and meal-induced gastrointestinal symptoms from patient filled self-questionnaires or questionnaires.ResultsEighty-four patients with IBS were included; 82.3% female with a mean age of 46.9 ± 15.7 years. Each transit pattern subtype represented one-third of the population. Forty-five percent of patients had severe IBS according to IBS-Severity Scoring System; mean IBS Quality of Life score was 53.9 ± 18.3. Patients believed that food could trigger or exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms in 73.3% and 93.4%, respectively. Eighty-nine percent had already tried diets, mostly lactose free diet and low fermentable, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols diet in 61.3% and 53.6% of cases. Thirty-nine percent of meals induced gastrointestinal symptoms. Meal-induced gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with severity and subtype but not with quality of life.ConclusionsThis study has confirmed the important link between gastrointestinal symptoms and food. Gastrointestinal symptoms induced by meals are frequent and associated with severity and IBS-diarrhea subtype. Our study also underlines patients’ interest in food and diet. More knowledge is needed on food that triggers IBS symptoms but also on diet conditions in order to improve this condition.

Prevalence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome in Irkutsk

Introduction. The study of the problem of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in recent years has been very dynamic. In the Rome IV criteria, new criteria for the diagnosis of this pathology were proposed. Along with the existence of ethnic and geographic differ­ences, this has led to an increase in the activity of studies on the prevalence of IBS.Aim. To study the prevalence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome in Irkutsk.Materials and methods. A single-stage observational non-randomized study was performed on the basis of three medical institu­tions in Irkutsk. Interviewing and clinical examination were performed in 1 529 people: 724 men and 805 women, average age 51.0 years. The questionnaire contained questions to determine the presence of alarm symptoms. The diagnosis of IBS was based on the Rome IV criteria. IBS with a predominance of diarrhea, IBS with a predominance of constipation and mixed and undiffer­entiated IBS were distinguished. Taking into account the position of the Rome IV criteria and the recommendations of the American College of Gastroenterology (2021), we used a positive diagnosis of IBS in our study and did not perform an instrumental examination of patients.Results. The prevalence of IBS was 12.3%. Among the subtypes of IBS, IBS prevailed with a predominance of constipation (preva­lence 5.7%) and IBS of mixed and undifferentiated type (prevalence 4.6%). Risk factors for IBS were female sex (OR = 0.73; CI 0.53-0.99; p = 0.05), age over 50 years (OR = 0.66; CI 0.48-0.90; p = 0.01) and obesity (OR = 0.46; CI 0.31-0.69; p < 0.001). Risk factors for IBS with a predominance of constipation were female sex (OR = 0.46; CI 0.29-0.73; p = 0.001), age over 50 years (OR = 0.46; CI 0.29-0.73; p = 0.001) and obesity (OR = 0.41; CI 0.23-0.72; p = 0.002).Conclusions. In general, our results are consistent with data from other regions of the world. It should be emphasized that the prevalence of IBS in Irkutsk is quite high, which requires careful attention to this problem.

How can probiotic improve irritable bowel syndrome symptoms?

The onset and manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with several factors, and the pathophysiology involves various central and peripheral mechanisms. Most studies indicate that the management of gut microbiota could significantly affect the improvement of subjective disorders in patients with IBS. Numerous clinical trials have assessed the efficacy of probiotics for IBS with controversial conclusions. Several clinical trials have suggested that probiotics can improve global IBS symptoms, while others only improve individual IBS symptoms, such as bloating scores and abdominal pain scores. Only a few clinical trials have found no apparent effect of probiotics on IBS symptoms. Generally, probiotics appear to be safe for patients with IBS. However, the question of which probiotics should be used for certain IBS subtypes remains unresolved. In everyday practice, the dose of the recommended probiotic remains questionable, as well as how long the probiotic should be used in therapy. The use of probiotics in the M subtype and non-classified IBS is particularly problematic, in which combination therapy should be recommended due to the change in symptoms. Therefore, new approaches are needed in the design of clinical studies that should address certain subtypes of IBS.

Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional bowel disorder worldwide and is associated with visceral hypersensitivity, gut motility, immunomodulation, gut microbiota alterations, and dysfunction of the brain-gut axis; however, its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Gut microbiota and its metabolites are proposed as possible etiological factors of IBS. The aim of our study was to investigate specific types of microbiota-derived metabolites, especially bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, amino acids, serotonin and hypoxanthine, which are all implicated in the pathogenesis of IBS. Metabolites-focused research has identified multiple microbial targets relevant to IBS patients, important roles of microbiota-derived metabolites in the development of IBS symptoms have been established. Thus, we provide an overview of gut microbiota and their metabolites on the different subtypes of IBS (constipation-predominant IBS-C, diarrhea-predominant IBS-D) and present controversial views regarding the role of microbiota in IBS.

Epidemiology of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Albania.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition, with a relatively high prevalence and represents a burden for the healthcare budgets. Knowing the prevalence of IBS is important for scientific and practical estimation of its impact. The recent Rome IV global study has shed light on the prevalence of IBS in many countries, but reports are lacking from other countries. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of IBS in Albania, a country from which we do not have relevant information. A prospective study was carried out in order to find out the prevalence of IBS in Albania. The target population was a sample of at least 500 Albanian adults (from a population of 2.2 million adults in this country. The questionnaires were distributed to the general population through three University centers from different areas of the country, through family doctors, chosen randomly, and by door to door by volunteer medical students. The questionnaires were self-completed by the participants and included 29 items: biographical data, IBS symptoms based on the Rome IV criteria, the symptoms that accompany IBS and the quality of life (QoL). The prevalence of IBS in the studied population, the sex ratio, the subtypes of IBS and the prevalence of different symptoms were calculated. We sent out 550 questionnaires and we received answers from 502 subjects (response rate 91%, 312 females, median age: 42 years). IBS was present in 43 cases (8.6%), without gender predominance. The IBS subtypes had the following values: IBS-C 58%, IBS-D 28% and IBS-M 14%. Women had a relatively higher risk for subtype IBS predominant constipation (OR=1.13, 95%CI: 0.32-3.95, p=0.84) but men appeared to be more prone to IBS predominant diarrhea (OR=1.3, 95%CI: 0.33-5.08, p=0.7). The most affected age was over 50 years and the least affected was between 18-30 years. Bloating was present in 81.4% of IBS respondents. The pain significantly influenced the daily activity in IBS: OR=12.9:1 (95% CI: 6.18-27.31, p<0.0001). Education seems to be an important risk factor; people with only middle school education or less had an OR=4.5 (95% CI: 2-10.54, p=0.0003) of developing IBS than people with a higher education. These are the first reported data on IBS in Albania. IBS in Albania is of 8.6%, more than the average data in the Rome IV global study, but in the range obtained from other studies. The most common type is IBS-C; there is no gender predominance; it is more common in less educated persons; the influence of pain on daily activity is higher in IBS.

Irritable bowel syndrome is strongly associated with the primary and idiopathic mast cell disorders.

Mounting evidence supports a mechanistic association between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms and mast cell hyperactivity. Yet, association between IBS and mast cell disorders (MCDs) has not been studied. We examined this association using two large databases and verified with manual chart review. The IBM Watson Health Explorys database (Somers, NY), an aggregate of electronic health record (EHR) data from over two dozen US healthcare systems, and Epic's SlicerDicer tool, a self-service tool containing de-identified data from the Epic EHR, were used to identify patients with IBS and MCDs. Patients with organic gastrointestinal disease or diseases associated with secondary mast cell hyperproliferation were excluded. Results were verified with manual chart review from two academic centers. Up to 4% of IBS patients had a comorbid MCD. IBS was strongly associated with all MCDs. The strongest association was between IBS and mast cell activation syndrome (OR 16.3; 95% CI 13.1-20.3). Odds ratios for IBS+urticaria, IBS+idiopathic urticaria, IBS+non-malignant mastocytosis, and IBS+mast cell malignancy ranged from 4.5 to 9.9. Patients from each of these overlap cohorts were predominantly female, and the overlap occurred with all IBS subtypes. Thorough endoscopic evaluation and comorbid mood disorders and migraines are more common in the overlap cohorts than in IBS alone. In a large US database encompassing >53million patients over >20years, patients with IBS are at least 4 times more likely to have a MCD than the general population. Further study of mast cell involvement in the pathogenesis of IBS is warranted.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome in nursing staff at a hospital in Cuenca-Ecuador

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional-digestive disorder in health personnel, with significant repercussions on life quality, work, healthcare system and society. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of reported IBS and its subtypes in the nursing staffs' medical records of a public hospital, in Cuenca - Ecuador. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional, descriptive study, with a randomized sample of nursing workers of Hospital Jose Carrasco Arteaga, Cuenca- Ecuador; between June 2017 and April 2018. According to Rome III criteria, medical records were assessed looking for IBS diagnosis and the subtype. Finally, sociodemographic, occupational and psychological factors among the nursing staff was also described. RESULTS: Two-hundred and fourteen medical records were evaluated (average age: 38.7 ± 10.4 years, 95.3% women). A diagnosis of IBS was found in 7.0% (15/214) of the personnel evaluated. The most frequent IBS subtypes were undetermined (46.7%, 7/15) and mixed (26.7%, 4/15). Twenty percent of the nursing staff with IBS, had mental disorders diagnosis (anxiety, depression and/or dysthymia), the same percent worked shifts. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of IBS reported in the nursing staff medical records, in Cuenca- Ecuador was lower than expected (7%). The most frequent IBS subtypes were undetermined subtype, followed by mixed subtype.

Neuronal-enriched extracellular vesicles in individuals with IBS: A pilot study of COMT and BDNF.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by abdominal pain, bowel habit alterations, and psychiatric comorbidities. Although pathophysiology remains incompletely understood, prior work demonstrates associations with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). The purpose of this study was to quantify BDNF and COMT in plasma and in neuronal-enriched extracellular vesicles (nEVs), assess relationships with psychological symptoms, and gain insight on the brain-gut connection in IBS. Clinical data and biorepository samples from a parent investigation were used, including scores on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Distinct subpopulations of nEVs were isolated using neural cell adhesion molecule L1CAM; levels of COMT, mature BDNF, and pro-BDNF were quantified in plasma and in nEVs using ELISA. Data from 47 females (28.11±6.85years) included 18 IBS and 29healthy control (HC) participants. IBS participants displayed reduced plasma levels of mature BDNF compared with HC (p=0.024). Levels of COMT plasma and IBS grouping significantly predicted CES-D scores (p=0.034). Exploratory analyses by IBS subtype and race revealed African American HC display lower levels of COMT EV than Caucasian HC (p=0.022). Lower levels of mature BDNF in IBS participants, preliminary patterns detected in cargo content of nEVs, and relevance of COMT and IBS status to CES-D scores, offer insight on depressive symptomatology and brain-gut dysregulation in IBS. Lower COMT levels in nEVs of African Americans highlight the relevance of race when conducting such analyses across diverse populations.

Serum L-arginine and endogenous methylarginine concentrations predict irritable bowel syndrome in adults: Anested case-control study.

Background & AimsNitric oxide, a major inhibitory nonadrenergic, noncholinergic neurotransmitter that relaxes smooth muscle, may be implicated in the pathophysiology of visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Impaired bioavailability of the nitric oxide precursor molecule L‐arginine and higher concentrations of methylarginines (endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis) are known to impair nitric oxide synthesis in numerous gastrointestinal cell types. We therefore examined serum concentrations of L‐arginine and the methylarginines in a nested case‐control study, to assess whether these factors are associated with adult IBS.MethodsData on clinical characteristics, methylarginines, and L‐arginine (measured using LC‐MS/MS) were collected from a random population‐based cohort of Australian adults (median age = 64 years; IQR = 60–70). Cases of IBS, defined according to Rome III criteria (N = 156), and controls (N = 332) were identified from within the cohort at the 5‐year follow‐up.ResultsIn adjusted logistic regression analyses, L‐arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, symmetric dimethylarginine, L‐arginine/asymmetric dimethylarginine ratio, and Kessler‐10 psychological distress scores were significantly associated with IBS (p > 0.05). Similar results were found for IBS subtypes. Higher serum L‐arginine concentration had the strongest association with IBS diagnosis, with an odds ratio of 9.03 for those with serum L‐arginine at the 75th (84 μmol/L) versus 25th (46 μmol/L) percentile (95% CI: 5.99–13.62). L‐arginine had the best discriminative ability with a bias‐adjusted area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.859.ConclusionsHigher serum concentrations of L‐arginine and endogenous methylarginines are strongly associated with IBS in adults.

Effect of Low FODMAPs Diet on Irritable Bowel Syndromes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.

We conducted a meta-analysis exploring the effect of a low fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides, and polyols diet (LFD) on the overall symptoms, quality of life, and stool habits of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. The meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects method. The effect size was presented as weighted standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses were conducted to determine the potential effects of covariates on the outcome. Twenty-two papers were included. The LFD group showed a moderate reduction in symptom severity and a slight improvement in quality of life compared to the control group (SMD, −0.53 and 0.24; 95% CI, −0.68, −0.38 and 0.02, 0.47, respectively). IBS symptom improvement was consistent between subgroups stratified according to proportions of female patients, study durations, IBS subtypes, assessment methods, and control interventions. Three studies regarding stool habits change in IBS-D patients showed a significant decrease in stool frequency (mean differences [MD], −5.56/week; 95% CI, −7.40, −3.72) and a significant improvement in stool consistency (MD, −0.86; 95% CI, −1.52, −0.19) in the LFD group compared to the control group. This is the most updated meta-analysis including studies that adopted diverse control interventions such as dietary interventions, supplementation, habitual diets, and lifestyle changes.

A Nonviable Probiotic in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of oral treatment with a nonviable probiotic lysate (BL) of Escherichia coli (DSM 17252) and Enterococcus faecalis (DSM 16440) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A phase IV, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter (30 study sites), parallel group study was conducted in 389 patients of both sexes with IBS according to Rome III criteria. The treatment period was 26 weeks. The participants were allocated to either placebo or BL after a 2-week baseline period. The primary outcome was based on the European Medicines Agency IBS guideline: improvement in global assessment (GAI) and improvement in abdominal pain. Patients (BL, n= 191; placebo, n= 198) had similar baseline values and dropout rates. Overall, the response was similar between BL and placebo for IBS-GAI (17.4% and 14.4%, respectively; P= ·4787) and abdominal pain (42.0% and 35.4%, respectively; P= ·1419). Some secondary outcome measures and sensitivity analyses pointed toward potentially higher sensitivity of the abdominal pain measures in diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) but not the other subtypes. For the GAI, no subgroup differences were detected. For IBS-D, post hoc analyses for abdominal pain response over time and stool consistency showed potentially promising effects of BL. Finally, the treatment with BL was well-tolerated. BL is not effective across all IBS subtypes. However, BL may offer a treatment option for IBS-D that needs verification by an adequately powered drug trial; EudraCT-No.: 2012-002741-38.

Fecal Fusobacterium nucleatum harbored virulence gene fadA are associated with ulcerative colitis and clinical outcomes

ObjectFusobacterium nucleatum (F.nucleatum), a gram-negative, obligately anaerobe of oral commensal，has been regarded as culprit of periodontal diseases previously and is being unveiled as possible pathogen of gastrointestinal disorders. The key virulence factor of F.nucleatum is FadA adhesin for binding and invading of the host's epithelial cells. Here, we detected fecal F.nucleatum and virulence gene fadA in patients with ulcerative colitis(UC) and evaluated the clinical relevance with UC. Methods and subjectsA total of 310 subjects were enrolled including 100 patients with UC, 70 healthy controls (HC), 70 patients with irritable bowel syndrome subtype diarrhea(IBS-D), and 70 colorectal cancer patients(CRC). Stool samples of UC patients compared with healthy controls as well as IBS-D and CRC patients were collected for Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) detection of F.nucleatum (based on 16s rRNA) and virulence gene fadA. ResultsThe detection rate of 16s rRNA based PCR for F.nucleatum of UC patients(39/100, 39.00%) and CRC(26/70, 37.14%) patients are significantly higher than HC (12/70, 17.14%, P < 0.01) and IBS-D patients (14/70, 20.00%, P < 0.01). Moreover, 19 samples were detected fadA positive from 39 F.nucleatum positive samples of UC patients (19/39, 48.72%), which is significantly higher than HC(2/12, 16.66%, P < 0.05). There were 3 samples detected fadA positive from 14 F.nucleatum positive samples of IBS-D patients(3/14, 21.43%) and 13 out of 26(50.00%) of CRC patients, which were both no significant differences compared with UC patients(21.4% vs 48.72%, P > 0.05; 50.00% vs 48.72%, P > 0.05). For both F.nucleatum and fadA gene positive patients, there were no statistical significances between erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells(WBC), and hemoglobin compared with negative patients(defined by either F.nucleatum or fadA negative, or both negative). However, it is worth noting that detection rate of F.nucleatum with virulence gene fadA in patients of severe ulcerative colitis was significantly higher than patients with mild and moderate colitis(28.89% vs 10.91%, P < 0.05). In addition, the fecal F.nucleatum and fadA gene positive patients were more likely to have pancolitis other than left-sided colitis(pancolitis/left-sided colitis: 26.92% vs 10.42%, P < 0.05). ConclusionsThe presence of F.nucleatum and fadA gene increased in UC patients, especially in patients with severe colitis and pancolitis. Strains of F.nucleatum harbored virulence gene fadA are suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of UC.

The frequency of excessive bacterial growth and the effectiveness of its treatment in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Objective — to study the frequency of the syndrome of intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and to establish the effects of its eradication on the clinical course of various subtypes of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).&#x0D; Materials and methods. The examinations in an open comparative randomized study involved 88 patients with IBS (35 men, 53 women) aged 26 to 56 years (mean age — 40 ± 14 years). The IBS diagnosis in all patients was established on the basis of Roma criteria IV. The IBS with diarrhea (IBS‑D) was established in the majority of patients (47 subjects, 53.4 %), a mixed subtype of IBS (IBS‑M) was revealed in 30 (34.1 %) patients, and IBS with constipation (IBS‑C) in 11 (12.5 %). The following IBS duration was defined: less than 5 years in 37 (42 %) of patients, 5 ‑ 10 years in 35 (39.8 %) subjects, more than 10 years in 16 (18.2 %) patients. The IBS course was mild in 30 (34.1 %) patients, mild to moderate in 45 (51.1 %) and severe disease was in 13 (14.8 %). The control group consisted of 30 clinically healthy people (18 women, 12 men, the mean age (33 ± 12) years). Diagnosis of SIBO was performed using the H2‑breath test with lactulose (H2‑LDT).&#x0D; Results. The overall frequency of SIBO detection (positive H2‑LDT) in patients with IBS (73.9 %) significantly exceeded its frequency in the controls (6.6 %, p &lt; 0.005). The frequency of SIBO was significantly higher in IBS‑D and IBS‑M (78.7 % and 73.3 %, respectively) compared to IBS‑C (54.3 %, p &lt; 0.005). Also, SIBO frequency was significantly higher in women with a history of the disease up to 5 years, in most patients a moderate course of IBS‑D was observed. The SIBO eradication after treatment with rifaximin was achieved in 73.8 % of cases, and eradication frequency in IBS‑D patients (78.4 %) significantly exceeded this parameter in patients with IBS‑C (66.6 %). Moreover, it was established that rifaximin at a dose of 1600 mg/day for 14 days was slightly more effective (eradication in 76.6 % of cases) than rifaximin at a dose of 1200 mg/day (eradication in 71.4 % of cases, p = 0.63).&#x0D; Conclusions. The results of the study indicate that SIBO is very often present in patients with IBS, and its elimination is accompanied by an increase in both clinical and anti‑relapse effects. Rifaximin is an effective agent for the eradication of SIBO, and increase of its dosage (from 1200 mg/day to 1600 mg/day) correlates with some increase in clinical and antibacterial efficacy. Clinical improvement and reduction of recurrence rates after eradication of SIBO suggests that the latter may play a pathogenetic role in IBS.&#x0D;

The Association between Adherence to the MIND Diet and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Background and Aims: No earlier study examined the association between adherence to the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet and odds of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study was conducted to examine the relationship between adherence to the MIND diet and odds of IBS among Iranian adults. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, dietary intakes of 3,362 adults were examined using a validated Dish-Based 106-item Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (DS-FFQ). The MIND diet score was constructed based on participants’ dietary intakes obtained from DS-FFQ. IBS was evaluated using a modified Persian version of the Rome III questionnaire. Results: Overall, 22.2% of the study population were affected by IBS (n = 748). We observed no significant relationship between adherence to the MIND diet and odds of IBS in the whole population (OR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.71–1.31). By gender and BMI status, no significant association between adherence to the MIND diet and odds of IBS was seen. Also, no significant association was found between adherence to the MIND diet and IBS subtypes. Conclusion: No significant association was found between adherence to the MIND diet and odds of IBS. Further studies are needed to examine the association between dietary patterns and IBS.

Does fecal calprotectin increase may be linked to lactose intolerance in patients with irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a multifactorial condition without any specific investigation. Fecal calprotectin (FC) may be elevated in IBS without any explanation. In addition, some patients with IBS have symptoms related to lactose intolerance. Our main aim was to investigate whether an increase in FC could be related to lactose intolerance in patients with IBS. In this retrospective single-center study, all patients with IBS who have underwent a FC test and a lactose respiratory test within a period of less than 6 months were eligible. A FC greater than or equal to 50 μg/g was considered abnormal. Severnty-six patients (48 females), mean age 38±15 years were included. Symptoms were respectively: bloating in 57%, diarrhea in 76% and abdominal pain in 46% of cases. Among the 76 patients: 22 (29%) had FC≥50 μg/g and 9/22 (41%) had a positive lactose test. No significant relationship could be identified between the increase in FC and the lactose test positivity. The value of the FC was also not related to the subtype of IBS or the positivity of the glucose test. In our study, the increase in FC was not significantly related to the presence of lactose intolerance. Nevertheless, our work, despite its originality, is limited by its retrospective nature and small number of patients. Future studies including larger numbers of patients may identify the causes of elevated FC in patients with IBS to individualize different subgroups of patients to best adapt therapeutic management.

Increased psychological distress and somatization in patients with irritable bowel syndrome compared with functional diarrhea or functional constipation, based on Rome IV criteria.

The Rome IV criteria for disorders of gut-brain interaction define irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a functional bowel disorder associated with frequent abdominal pain of at least 1day per week. In contrast, functional diarrhea (FD) and functional constipation (FC) are relatively painless. We compared differences in mood and somatization between Rome IV IBS and FC/FD. A total of 567 patients with Rome IV defined IBS or FD/FC completed a baseline questionnaire on demographics, abdominal pain frequency, mood (hospital anxiety and depression scale, HADS), and somatization (patient health questionnaire, PHQ-12). The primary analysis compared differences in mood and somatization between IBS and FC/FD, and the relative influence of abdominal pain frequency on these extra-intestinal symptoms. The secondary analysis evaluated differences across individual IBS subtypes, and also between FC and FD. Patients with IBS-in comparison to those with FC/FD-had significantly higher mean PHQ-12 somatization scores (9.1 vs. 5.4), more somatic symptoms (6.0 vs. 4.3), abnormally high somatization levels (16% vs. 3%), higher HADS score (15.0 vs. 11.7), and clinically abnormal levels of anxiety (38% vs. 20%) and depression (17% vs. 10%). Increasing abdominal pain frequency correlated positively with PHQ-12, number of somatic symptoms, and HADS; p<0.001. No differences in mood and somatization scores were seen between individual IBS subtypes, and nor between FC and FD. Based on the Rome IV criteria, IBS is associated with increased levels of psychological distress and somatization compared with FD or FC. Patients reporting frequent abdominal pain should be comprehensively screened for psychosomatic disorders, with psychological therapies considered early in the disease course.

Subtypes and Severity of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Are Not Related to Patients’ Self-Reported Dietary Triggers: Results From an Online Survey in Dutch Adults

BackgroundDiet plays an important role in symptom management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, current diet therapies are not optimal nor successful for everyone. ObjectiveTo investigate whether subgroups based on IBS subtypes or severity identify different self-reported dietary triggers, and whether these are associated with severity and psychological factors. DesignOnline cross-sectional survey ParticipantsPatients with IBS (n = 1601) who fulfilled the Rome IV criteria or had an IBS diagnosis. Main outcomesSelf-reported response to 44 preselected dietary triggers, IBS quality of life, and anxiety and depression. Subgroups were based on subtypes or severity. Statistical analysisResponse to dietary triggers was analyzed using multiple correspondence analysis. Moreover, a food score was calculated to quantify the number and severity of responses to dietary triggers. ResultsResponse to greasy foods, onions, cabbage, and spicy and fried foods were mentioned most often (ranging between 55% and 65%). Response to dietary triggers differed between subtypes and severity groups, but absolute differences were small. Multiple correspondence analysis did not reveal clustering between dietary triggers, and ellipses for the subtypes overlapped. Some clustering was seen when ellipses were drawn for severity, which indicates that severity explained a fraction of the variation in response to dietary triggers, and subtypes did not. The food score was not significantly different between subtypes but was significantly higher with higher levels of severity (mild = 20.9 ± 17, moderate = 29.2 ± 19, severe = 37.9 ± 20, P < .001), having depressive (no = 31.4 ± 20, yes = 37.4 ± 20, P < .001) or anxious symptoms (no = 30.7 ± 20, yes = 35.2 ± 20, P < .001), and lower quality of life (lower quality of life = 38.5 ± 19, higher quality of life = 26.5 ± 19, P < .001). ConclusionPatients with different IBS subtypes or IBS severity do not identify different self-reported dietary triggers. Patients with more severe IBS and who experience anxiety or depression tend to have severe responses to more dietary triggers. IBS severity seems a better classifier than Rome IV criteria regarding diet. Dietary treatment needs to be individualized under guidance of a dietitian.